Final Year project on a HER2 positive breast cancer cell line wins 1st Place at The Eurofins Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Biology Research
Ruaidhri Bates is a final year BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology and Biopharmaceutical Science students at WIT. He claimed 1st Place at The Eurofins Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Biology Research which is sponsored by Eurofins Scientific.
Ruaidhri explains his winning project
I carried out a project on a HER2 positive breast cancer cell line, where I was given the opportunity to expose the cell line to a number of tests to measure its response to growth factors. I was also given the opportunity to test some alternative product, such as GreenWay Hemp and Wellness CBD and false dandelion root extract which I used to minimise the aggressiveness of HER2 positive breast cancer.
The project was an amazing experience and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. My supervisor for the project Dr Sweta Rani was fantastic in the support she offered. I would like to take this chance to thank her for everything she has done for me over the years and extend this thanks to the WIT and their staff for their continued support from the day I walked through the door to the day I finished. I would highly recommend the Molecular Biology and Bio-pharmaceuticals course for anyone who has an interest in biology.
I currently work for CBD Ireland/Greenway Hemp and Wellness where I work in cancer research and in drug development. There is a future in the use of alternative products in the treatment for many diseases and illnesses. Finding the routes where these products can be given drug status is important for those who are suffering. The future is now and these are exciting times in the drug development world.
Originally from Kilmore Quay in Wexford, Ruaidhri is a past pupil of XLC Waterford city and came to WIT as a mature student.
He always wanted to work with science
I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in science from watching programs like Star Trek, as I got older I favoured molecular biology over the other sciences because it is a hands-on approach to oncology and disease treatment. When I found out I had been accepted to the WIT I was thrilled beyond words. I really couldn't believe that it was happening, but once I walked through the doors on the first day it became very real and exciting.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who has an interest in Biopharmaceuticals or Molecular Biology. Ensure you are prepared to put in the time to study and understand what it is you are learning. The lecturers in the WIT will assist you from day one to the day you complete the course, so don't ever feel like you will not have support along your path. Whether you choose level 7 or level 8 is something you will need to decide, but I will say if you do a level 7 you will love this course so much that you will want to do the extra year to obtain your level 8, which you are more than welcome to do so.
(Ruairdhri says that CBD Ireland/Greenway Hemp and Wellness 'have been fantastic to me and are getting me back into research')
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
